Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1887-03-20
rHE CARSON MINT.
what senator Jones Said I'm Oh
Senate.

IuQlClhl jill 10 unaCA aAoS0ocASA - s1N |
Senate on March 2, the following proceed
ings took place:
MIR. Allison-Now, / ask the Senator to
return to page 81. There is a series OF
amendments there relating to the Mint At
Carson, which the Senator from Nevada
(Mr, Jones) asked me to withhold until
he could be present.
Mr.. Jones, of Nevada-I hope the COM
mittee will not insist on the amendments
relative to the Carson Mint.
A year or two ago that Mint was reduced
10 an assay Office, not by law, but by q
Treasury order ian order entirely I'M
authorized, as / think, greatly to the in
convenience OF the people in that section.
An attempt is now made to further reduce
it go that it shall be merely a receptacle.
q haven for q few officials. without their
having any duties whatever to perform.
The Mint is located in the very heart OF
one Of the greatest bullion-producing Sec
tions of the United States, but under the
recent msnagement Of the Treasury De-
partment the Government seems to regard
institutions of this character as estab-
lished not for the benefit of the peo-
pie. but as catch-penny. money-making
affairs on the part Of the United
States. The theory Of the Departs
ment seems to be that If the Gov
eminent can coin a dollar cheaper in one
place than in another the coming shall be
done where ii can be done most cheaply
to the Government, no matter what 1t may
cost those who produce the bullion to
transport the bullion to that place.
The State Of Nevada receives no assist
ance from River and Hsrbor bills, or from
any other Governmental source whatever;
while, on the other hand, its resources
have, in q brief period, added hundreds OF
millions Of dollars to the wealth OF the
nation. The people Of that State have an
ides that Minis are established for the
convenience OF the public, and not for the
purpose of e~ffecting q psltry saving to the
Governments saving OF q mere fifth OF l
per cent or an eighth of / per cent in the
expenses OF coinage-by compelling those
who produce bullion to transport it to
vast distances in order that 1t may be
coined.
1t is not at all impossible that there may
be q largely increased output of bullion in
that region within the present year. All
the indications point to such a result.
In view Of the great public convenience
involved, / trust the amendments offered
by the committee will be non-concurred in
by the Senate. / hope the Mint will be
left where the law put it-where it 10 now
with its officers and their salaries as they
are, and with the appropriation necessary
and proper for conducting it at its full
capacity.
Mr.. Allison-After the statement made
by the Senator of Nevada I do not know
that I shall insist upon the committee
amendments. The Committee on Appro.
priations. in preparing the bill and sug-
gesting amendments, have confined them
selves to the Book of Estimates. and /
think in no case have we advanced the ap-
propriations beyond the estimates made
in the Book Of Estimates except in
one or two instances respecting our own
clerical force. admit there ia great force
in what the Senator from Nevada says
and these items will be important il il
shall turn out that in q few months there
will DO q large production OF gold and
silver in that vicinity. Silver, l suppose.
10 the chief production.
Mr.. Jones, of Nevada Both; the pro
duction ia equal.
Mr.. A~llison-In that case ii will be q
wise thing to have in hand machinery oil
this kind to coin the gold or silver. ]
leave it to the Judgment Of the Senate
whether this matter shall stand or whether
the amendments proposed by the Commit
tee on Appropriations shall be rejected.
The Presiding Oficer-The Secretary
will report the amendment proposed BY
the Committee on Appropriations.
Mr.. Allison-There is a series of amend.
ments, all relating to the Carson Mint. ]
will say that the Committee on A~ppropria-
tions simply reduced the House PROPOSE
tions to the estimates OF the Secretary OF
the Treasury.
The Presiding OAicsr-Unless there is
objection, the amendments will be con-
sidered as one question.
The Chief Clerk-The Committee on
Appropriations report to insert in line
1905 the word and " before "Melter;" to
strike out in line 1906. after the word
"Refner, :" the words land Coiner;" in
line 1907, after the word leach" to strike
out the words Assistant Assayer, and
Assistant Meter and Rsfiner, and Assist
ant Coiner, at 50, 900 each;" after the
words "two thousand" In line 1909, to re-
duce the appropriation for Chief Clerk,
from 50. $50 to 50, 900; in the same line.
after the word "dollars," to strike out the
words Cashier, Bookkeeper, and Weight
Clerk at 50. 900 each; abstract Clerk and
Register Of Deposits" and to insert T" two
clerks;" in line 1912. after the word
"each," to insert zone clerk ct 81, 6O0;
IN line 1914, after the WOrd All, 10 strlke
out t" twenty nine thousand five hundred
and fifty" and insert sixteen thousand
four hundred" in line 1917. to reduce
the appropriation for wages of workmen
and adjusters " from $50. 900 TO S25, 900,
and in line 1919, to reduce the a%ppropria-
tion for "inoidental and contingent ex-
penses " from S25, 900 to $4,000; so as to
read:
Mint at Carson. New: For salary Of
superintendent, $4,000; for ssssyer, and
melter and %refner. $4,000 each; chief
clerk. at 50. 900; two clerks. at 81. 800 each;
one clerk, at 81. 600; ~assayer's computa-
ton clerk. at 81. 400; in all. $16.4 For
wages of workmen and adjusters. $25. 900.
For incidental and contingent expenses.
$25. 900.
The Presiding Oficer-The question is
on agreeing to the amendment proposed
by the Committee on Appropriations.
Mr.. Harris-It is suggested by the SEN
ator from Nevada to disagree TO the com-
mittee amendments?
Mr.. Jones, of Nevsda-Ye / ask that